Taking a bite out of the big apple — First, Twitter was a fun side project, then it was cared for lovingly at Obvious until it was time to form Twitter, Inc. Today, we're excited to announce an important moment for Twitter. We've raised funding from our friends in New York City at Union Square Ventures.

Twitter — The Internet is largely a communications medium. It's also used for content distribution, commerce, and a number of other things. But the thing I do most on the Internet is communicate. Via email, Skype, instant messaging, blogging, commenting, and twittering. It makes sense.

The Twitter Lesson: No Business Plans Please — Seeing that Twitter closed a funding round, and spotting the associated incredulity about Evan's company not having a business plan, reminded me of something: Whatever your feelings about Twitter, business plans are overrated, and profits perhaps even more so.

Microsoft Offers a Web-Based Strategy — Microsoft executives said Thursday that they intend to respond to the growing threat to its software posed by new rivals like Google that offer Web-based versions of its applications. — The executives said Microsoft would add similar Internet services …

Microsoft buying AdECN online ad exchange (Updated) — Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's Platforms and Services Division, just told financial analysts here in Redmond that the company is acquiring AdECN, an online ad exchange. There's no official word yet. Here's what he said:

Online Publishers Need To Stop Selling Space — I wrote a long post trying to explain why the page view/CPM model for valuing online media is so problematic, particularly for traditional media companies like newspapers that are trying to transition their business models online.

HBO comedy site shut down — This Just In offered celebrity riffs, comic videos — This Just In, the comedy site HBO envisioned as both a brand extension and a potential development pipeline, is being shut down just six months after launching. — Time Warner will unwind the venture …

Is Google on Crack? — This week I was supposed to explain why U.S. broadband prices are so much higher and U.S. broadband speeds are so much lower than in most other developed countries, but then Google made an unexpected reckless move in the wireless bandwidth market and here I am trying to explain it.

With Tools on Web, Amateurs Reshape Mapmaking — On the Web, anyone can be a mapmaker. — With the help of simple tools introduced by Internet companies recently, millions of people are trying their hand at cartography, drawing on digital maps and annotating them with text, images, sound and videos.

365 Main Responds to Questions about July 24th — San Francisco Power Incident — A complete investigation of the power incident continues with several specialists and 365 Main employees working around the clock to address the incident. — Generator/Electrical Design Overview

The Top 5 Viral Facebook Techniques — The dynamic of Facebook application marketing is rapidly changing. What once was an environment in which your application was practically guaranteed to go viral has shifted to one in which you need to come up with creative ways of marketing your application.

2018 Top 100 Global Tech Leaders — 21st century technology-sector leadership requires more than financial success. It also requires a commitment to compliance, innovation, and much more. Who are today's leaders?